Method of preparing nursery products for transplanting, compound, and package therefor



June 26, 1934.

E. M. QUILLEN ET AL 1,964,689 METHOD OF PREPARING NURSERY PRODUCTS FORTRANSPLANTING, COMPOUND, AND PACKAGE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 10, 1953Patented June 26,- 1934 E I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OFPREPARING NURSERY PROD- UCTS FOR TRANSPLANTING, COMPOUND, AND PACKAGETHEREFOR Edgar M. Quillen and William J. Billerbeck, Waynesboro, Va.,assignors to Titus Nursery Company, Waynesboro, Va.

Application February m, 1933, Serial No. 656,158 9 Claims. (01. 47-31)The present invention relates to a method of in the soil. The limenaturally adds to the enpreparing nursery products for transplanting,couragement of the plant and aids in its growth. compound, and packagetherefor, and consists in In making up the compound theseingredients thenovel steps of procedure, and combinations are mixed together andthoroughly saturated with 'and arrangements of ingredients forming thewater to make them plastic. One-half of the 60 package as hereinafterdescribed and particularly quantity required for each plant is thenplaced set forthin the claims. in a steel box or other suitablecontainer, and

In the transplanting of nursery products comthe plant is thenroot-pruned and inserted into paratively few people are competent to dothe the box when the other half quantity of comrequired work in a properway, and as a conse position is added. Pressure is then applied to 65quence of this ignorance there is much wasted the material in thecontainer which thereby forms energy, disappointment in results, and aconsidor shapes the same into a brick-like unit or mass erable waste ofmoney and plants that might about the roots. By this method theresultant otherwise be saved if the transplanting were done product is acompressed block of well fertilized in a scientific manner. Furthermore,due to this humus and plant food in the best proportions for 70inadequate knowledge and cultural information healthy progress of theplant under normally by home owners and gardeners many plants arevarying conditions. actually killed in the attempts of transplanting,After removal from the container or form, the or in efforts made toencourage their growth. A block or unit is suitably secured by rubberstrips further contributing cause to this situation is the or bandswhich offer no hindrance to its handling 75 lack of knowledge as topruning, the kinds of or placement in the ground or growth thereafter.soil required for obtaining the best growth, how The plant is thentop-pruned and dipped into a deep to set or place the plants, the kindand wax preparation to ventrap its contained moisture amount offertilizer to use, and obviously acome and prevent escapement thereofthrough the top petent knowledge of these essentials is required of theplant. for any degree of success in nursery planting and The root blockis then securely wrapped with gardening. asphalt-coated paper to preventescapement of To overcome the above enumerated disadvanmoisture, andthis waterproof paper is effectively tages the present inventionproposes a novel and sealed with an application of heat where itovereffective process whereby anyone with ordinary laps, thereby givinga completely waterproofed 35 care may carry on the work oftransplanting, and plant that effectively prevents all escapement ofwherein highly successful results are obtainable moisture. withoutrequiring special skill or knowledge either The customer who eventuallyplants the prodin the steps of transplanting or in the packaging uct isinstructed to entirely remove this outer of the products. That is tosay, the method of covering paper so that the placed root block ortransplanting herein described seeks to eliminate unit has directcontact with the garden soil, and allof the hazards now encountered intransplantcan thereby continuously absorb moisture from ing livingdormant plants, and give good results the surrounding earth. It iscontemplated to with the minimum care and knowledge. effectively wrapthe waterproof plant in an at- 40 The essential steps in carrying outthe process tractive carton which bears complete instrucand thenovelpackage therefor employed are tions for handling and planting.succinctly set forth in the accompanying draw- It will therefore be seenthat all likelihood of ins, wh he s veral figures portray or illuserroris eliminated and the usual hazards attendtrate the successive steps inthe transplanting ing the transplanting purpose are avoided.

to operation and salient features ofthe package and Apart from the factthat the plant is actually its component parts. pruned and fertilizedproperly one of the out- In carrying out the process we employ apackstanding advantages of our process is that all age composed of thefollowing ingredients by waterproof coating isremoved from the rootblock weight: super phosphate two parts, ground limepreparatory tosetting in the ground. Any water- 50 stone one part, peat moss twelveparts, top soil proofing which would operate to prevent or retard twelveparts, vegetable meal four parts, the whole the escape of moisture intransitwould also prebeing formed into a compact block or unit as cludethe plants absorbing moisture when s t herein described. The limestoneis employed to in the ground unless this waterproofing wer counteractthe acid normally contained in the removed.

55 peat moss, and in like manner any natural acidity The hereindescribed method of preparing the 1m handled.

because of its great moisture carrying capacity since it contains littleor no food value. It also aids in making the The root-surroundingblock-of applicants plant package includes equal parts of peat moss andtop soil and relatively small parts of phosphate, limestone andvegetable meal. It has been found that a root-surrounding block havingas its principal ingredients peat moss and top soil in equal parts,possesses advantages over the heretofore known root-surrounding blocksin that it has superior moisture-retaining qualities, it may be moreuniformly pressed into contact with the roots of the plant, and willstart to stimulate the growth of the plant in shorter time afterthe rootblock has been set in theground.

The procedure or steps followed and apparae tus used in putting up theplant-packages, as above described, is shown by way of illustration inthe accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 shows a plant preparatory to being packaged.

Figure 2 a perspective view of the plant in the container forcompressing the compound about the roots thereof.

Figure 3 a side elevational view of the container and plant in thecompress.

Figure 4 a top plan view thereof.

Figure 5 shows the plant with root compound pressed thereon, and readyto be wrapped or put in a package for shipping.

Figure 6 shows the packaged plant and likewise in condition preparatoryto final wrapping ready for planting.

Figure '7 illustrates the plant in its final package.

Referring to the figures in further detail P indicates the plant to beput up, having its roots R and branches B suitably secured by binders Sof string or other appropriate devices. The container is composed of twosimilar parts S'detachably connected by links or bales 9, and in whichthe composition 10 is initially placed for packing about the roots R.

The container 8' is placed in the compress 11 and the top 12 closed asshown in Figure 4. Said top'plate is hinged at 13 and is notched toengage the stop and holding bolt 14. 15 indicates the pressure cylinderhaving piston rod 16 carrying piston 1'7.

After removal from the press the compressed material or soil block 10has rubber bands 18 applied as shown in Figure 5. The branches B arethen trimmed and wax-dipped, and the plant is then wrapped by paper 19and secured by suitable cord or other binding 20 as in Figure 6.Following this the article is ready for placing in the cardboard orother box 21 as in Figure 7. The rubberv bands 18 extend horizontallyand vertically-about the soil block 10. The horizontal bands are,located at opposite sides of the horizontal center of the block, and thevertical bands are located at opposite sides of the vertical'center ofthe block. Due to their elasticity and to the plant package light andeasily 'and for the purpose set forth.

manner in which they are arranged on the block, the bands hold the blockagainst collapsing during the application of the wrapper,-during theremoval of the wrapper and while the block is being placed in theground. As the block comprises equal parts of top soil and peat moss,and as the block consists mainly of these ingredients, the block bindswell under the compressing forces exerted thereon by the -Jelasticbands.-

It is to be understood the invention as herein disclosed is not limitedto the precise process and packaging, but on the other hand may bevaried in its details and pplication within the scope of the claims.

soil twelve parts, peat moss twelve parts, superphosphate two parts,limestone one part, vegetable meal four parts, and a suitable solvent,substantiallyv as set forth.

2. The method of packaging plants which consists in compressing aboutthe roots thereof a plastic mass of suitable ingredients, tying the sameinto definite shape with elastic bands, and

enclosing and securing the compressed andtied mass in a waterproofwrapper, substantially as set forth.

3. The method of packaging plants which consists in compressing within acontainer approximately one-half the required quantity of growthproducing ingredients in plastic condition, pruning the roots of theplant and inserting .the same into said container, then adding andcompressing about said roots another quantity of the same material,removing said container from the compressed material, and finallybinding and securing the compressed material, substantially as setforth.

4. The method of packaging plants which consists in compressing within acontainer a limited quantity of suitable growth producing ingredients inplastic condition, pruning the plant roots and inserting the same intosaid container, adding and compressing about said roots another quantityof the same material, removing said container from the compressedmaterial, binding and securing the compressed material, and finallypruning the tops of the plant and dipping the same in a wax preparation,as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The method of packaging plants which consists in compressing within acontainer a limited quantity of suitable growth producing ingredients inplastic condition, inserting the plant roots into said container, thenadding and compressing about said roots another quantity of the samematerial, removing said container from the commaterial, binding andsecuring the compressed 1 material, and finally pruning the tops of theplant and dipping the same into a wax '7. The method of packaging plantswhich consists in compressing within a container approxipreparation, as

mately one-halt the required quantity of growth producing ingredients inplastic condition, pruning the roots of the plant and inserting the sameinto said container, adding and compressing about said roots anotherquantity of the same materiaLremoving said container from the compressedmaterial, binding and securing the compressed material with elasticbands, wrapping the compressed and bound material with a suitablemoisture-proof paper, and finally pruning the tops of the plant anddipping the same into a wax preparation, as and for the purpose setforth.

8. A plant package comprising a block of plastic material adapted tosurround the roots of a plant, and elastic bands extending verticallyand horizontally about the block, the vertical bands being arranged atopposite sides of the vertical center of the block, the horizontal bandsbeing arranged at opposite sides of the horizontal center of the block,and the bands exerting compressive forces on the block to prevent itfrom collapsing. 9. A plant package comprising a block adapted tosurround the roots of a plant and including equal parts of peat moss andtop soil, and elastic means exerting compressive forces on the block toprevent it from collapsing.

EDGAR M. QUILLEN.

WILLIAM J. BILLERBECK.

